UN: ICAO signs landmark framework to curb aviation emissions

New York, US (PANA) - The UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has agreed on a new emissions standard to control global greenhouse gas emissions from international airline flights.

In a statement, obtained by PANA in New York on Friday, ICAO President, Mr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, said: "It has taken a great deal of effort and understanding to reach this stage, and I want to applaud the spirit of consensus and compromise demonstrated by our member states, industry and civil society."

"We now have practical agreement and consensus on this issue backed by a large number of states who will voluntarily participate in the global market-based measure and from its outset," he stated.

According to him, the standard, or Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), serves as a positive and sustainable contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

He noted that the standard aimed at curbing the growing climate impact of plane travel, and called for international aviation to address and offset its emissions through the reduction of emissions elsewhere, outside of the international aviation sector.

"Further, the new standard is designed to complement the basket of mitigation measures the air transport community is already pursuing to reduce CO2 emissions from international aviation, including, technical and operational improvements and advances in the production and use of sustainable alternative fuels for aviation.

It is now up to the agencies members to implement the agreement," the ICAO chief said.

He also said the implementation of the aviation carbon dioxide standard will begin with a pilot phase from 2021 through 2023, followed by a first phase, from 2024 through 2026.

"Participation in these early stages will be voluntary. With the subsequent phases, from 2027 to 2035, ICAO would like all of its members to implement the standard," he added.

The ICAO chief, however, noted that some exemptions were accepted for least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked developing countries, and states with very low levels of international aviation activity.

The Montreal-based ICAO works with 191 member states and industry groups to reach consensus on international standards, practices and policies for the civil aviation sector.

PANA reports that the decision by ICAO member states on the new emissions standard came just as the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change will come into force on 4 November.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 7Oct2016